Our tears flow freely for Mohamad Thaqif

Boy ‘abused by assistant school warden’ dies

Vijay47: As a parent and grandparent, I am in tears as I write about this innocent child so cruelly taken away from his parents and family, from all of us.

I just cannot understand how anyone could have been so savage as to give Mohamad Thaqif Amin Mohd Gaddafi such a beating as to lead him into a comatose state, to the loss of both legs, possibly an arm and finally, to his death.

Even if he were naughty, just how mischievous can a 11-year-old child be? To be sentenced to death?

I am not bothered that the assailant was a criminal, monsters like him can be found in any status or station in life. But from the occasional news reports, it appears that these residential schools can be hell, manned by sick persons who seem obsessed with grievously hurting those under their charge.

But being aware of Malaysian reality, we know that nothing will happen; the ministers will spout some platitudes, the grieving family will be given a cheque under the full glare of TV cameras. And life will go on, until the next child dies.

Negarawan: This is indeed a very heart-wrenching case of an innocent young boy who lost his life so unnecessarily.

It must be highlighted there have been quite a number of cases of alleged atrocities, sexual abuses and even murder committed in tahfiz schools around the country.

How are these tahfiz schools managed, and by whom? Why is it that after many cases of abuse have been reported, there has been no action taken?

I hope that Mohamad Thaqif did not die in vain. Parents are also responsible for the future of their children and should not pressure their children on religious matters when they themselves are far from being perfect.

Anonymous #33227154: Why didn’t the mother do anything when her son complained to her about his abuse? She could have saved him.

The assistant warden should be charged with murder and the religious school should be closed. Such an atrocious crime happened in a religious school, where it is supposed to teach the pupils to be good. What a disgrace.

KnockKnock: To be fair to all, let’s first get the hospital to sum up the probabilities of cause of death. We are only hearing one side of the story until now.

Anonymous_1420346063: Yes, a post-mortem has to be done first. What kind of abuse was inflicted on this child? Why did bacterial infection cause the loss of limbs? All these have to be answered.

Cocomomo: Sickening to say the least.

1. Will the warden be charged with involuntary manslaughter, though murder maybe more appropriate in this case?

2. Why did the authorities hire an alleged ex-felon? Why no checking done? Charge the persons concerned as well.

3. No doubt it’s sad for the parents, but did they not know the kid was being abused? If they knew, why did they not do anything?

4. What about the other kids?

5. Is such punishment allowed?

Again, it looks like neglect on the part of the authorities. Nothing you do now will bring back this boy. Hopefully the authorities will better manage similar situations to avoid a repetition.

Legit: My heart aches and I am so disturbed for this poor boy who had endured such pain and torture at the hands of this man.

I am so angry at the school administration for not paying attention to the cruelties these children go through. The head of the school should be sacked and punished.

I do not feel sorry for the parents because it looks like the boy had tried to complain to them of the suffering he had been going through but was ignored. That is why he had resorted to writing about his ordeal in his diary. What a total failure of the system.

Not Confused: Yes, I have zero sympathy for his parents. They clearly neglected his pleas. Probably too busy with their own lives. It’s an utter disgrace.

The felon assistant warden should never have been employed by any school. It just shows how weak the authorities are in this God-forsaken country.

The entire school administration should be fired immediately and a thorough investigation into the running of this school (and other similar schools) undertaken. Life in Malaysia is so cheap.

Commentable: This episode shouldn’t end up being swept under the carpet. Treat religious schools, especially boarding ones, in the same way as normal private or international schools and impose stringent licensing conditions on them.

Throw in strict enforcement and random spot checks too. This is not too much to ask when it comes to the safety of children.

Determined Sarawakian: Just ask yourself this: this kid is barely a teenager, and it was needed to amputate almost all his limbs?

The suffering (despite all the morphine drips to withstand the pain) can only do so much and the kid will go into cardiac arrest. The school and its authorities have to face a murder charge now.

Even if there’s a possibility to save his life, what do you think the family had to undergo? It would require years of rehabilitation and the possibility, at worst, of being unable to find a suitable job with his condition.

Hang Tuah PJ: I am sick to the core. Were the parents not observant enough to notice the change in the character or mannerism of their child?

I just have to look at my children’s face to know something is wrong, or they are guilty of something or they are lying or they are suffering from pain or they are up to something.

Any parent should be able to read their children’s state of mind just by observing their face and actions. What were the parents doing? I am so very, very angry at the parents.

To me, it seems they did not care enough. I don’t care what all of you think about my ranting, but as a mother, I cannot stomach this.

Anonymous 2401191456463140: My tears flow freely for you, son. There are no words to describe our sympathy to those mourning his passing.

XED: Heart breaking indeed. Goodbye, little one. There is a place in heaven for you. Certainly, when you were too young to sin.

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